The pregame mood wasn’t quite the same, not when you remember the classic Warriors-San Antonio battles of the past.

The Warriors haven’t been overwhelmingly dominant, but they still held a half-game lead over Houston for the NBA’s best record entering Saturday night’s game. And they were 71/2 games ahead of the Spurs, who haven’t received much mention among the league’s most prepared teams for the postseason.

Still, it’s the Spurs. It’s Gregg Popovich against Steve Kerr. It’s the confluence of two time-tested, cohesive offensive systems, all about precise ball movement and the spirit of unselfishness. That’s something NBA fans should never take for granted, and it’s a dynamic to which nearly every other team in the league aspires.

Popovich got a kick out of hearing about the Warriors’ “problems” before the game. Here’s a coach who has had to draw up lineups without his best player, Kawhi Leonard, for most of the season. He’s down to one point guard, Patty Mills, due to injuries. The Spurs weren’t able to make any moves at the trading deadline, and there’s no guarantee they’ll find anything in the buyout market. At a lot of positions, they seem to be either too old or too young.

The Warriors have the pieces in place to win another title, but this is an interesting time. If a reliable shooter becomes available on the buyout market, they have to figure out if he’s a worthwhile replacement for Nick Young. JaVale McGee’s spot on the roster seems tenuous, but the club still appreciates his value as a lob-dunker, shot-blocker and presence in the clubhouse.

It doesn’t feel as if a move is imminent. Even with the bench coming up short as a group, there is clearly great reluctance to break up the roster. Such is life at the top. And the Warriors will get no sympathy from the Spurs or anyone else.